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Globetrotters reach out to Royce White

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Harlem Globetrotters are reaching out to NBA rookie forward Royce White of the Houston Rockets to offer him support and another potential opportunity to play professional basketball without the rigors of flying. The 6-foot-8 Royce, who was a first-round draft pick out of Iowa State University this past June, has publicly stated he has a fear of flying.

“I have watched from afar an incredibly gifted basketball player who has struggled off the court with a fear of flying, and I truly feel for this young man,” said Globetrotter Coach and Director of Player Personnel “Sweet” Lou Dunbar, who makes his home in the Houston area. “While we truly hope Royce can overcome his fears, and have a highly successful NBA career, I just want him to know the Globetrotters offer their support and another option to play professional basketball without a rigorous flying schedule. He could have an opportunity to play for the Globetrotters, as many of our 270 games in North America are traveled by luxury bus. As for the 150 others overseas, well, we would have to excuse him from those games.”

“I’m here in Houston if he wants to sit down and talk,” added Dunbar. “Regardless of his decision, we wish him well.”

The Globetrotters, who enter their 87th consecutive season in 2013, tip off the North American leg of the 2013 “You Write the Rules” World Tour on Dec. 26, 2012. The team will play over 270 games in nearly 240 cities in 45 states and nine Canadian provinces though April 2013 and do their travel on a custom Greyhound touring bus. Several NBA greats started their careers with the Harlem Globetrotters, including Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain and Connie Hawkins.

This past year, White became the only NCAA Division I player to lead his team in scoring (13.4 ppg), rebounds (9.3 rpg), assists, steals and blocks at Iowa State, and led the Cyclones to their first NCAA tournament appearance in seven years.